Ruth Marie Davidson, an ‘Iron Lady’
Ruth Marie Davidson, 97, of Glenn Dale, Md., formerly of Frankford/Dagsboro, was born May 26, 1922, in Frankford. She was one of five siblings born to the late Orville Edgar Quillen and the late Blanche (Lathbury) Quillen. In addition to her parents, Ruth is preceded in death by her beloved husband, William Howard Davidson; two sons, William Howard Davidson Jr. and Douglas Orville Davidson; her daughter, Jean Loraine (Dennis) Marvel; her sister, Belva Townsend; and more recently her brother Sylvester Orville Quillen.
Ruth grew up in a farming environment, spending the majority of her working career raising broilers. When daily feeding and watering chores were done in the chicken houses, Ruth could be found weeding a garden patch or two or mowing grass. She was a longtime member of Saint George’s United Methodist Church in Clarksville. Regardless of the circumstances Ruth always found time for her family; she was dedicated and fiercely proud. Those who knew Ruth will attest to the fact that while she was one tough cookie, she had a gentle side as well. She thoroughly enjoyed visits from her grandchildren, her siblings and their children, and what often seemed like a continuous stream of friends and neighbors.
In the summer of 2017, with declining health problems, Ruth sold her home in Dagsboro and moved in with her daughter (Gail Davidson Biddle) in Glenn Dale, where she would complete her life’s journey with the same tenacity and grit that had become her trademark. During her final days it was apparent to those around her that Ruth was taking control. She was going to do things her way and on her schedule.
On Friday, March 27, 2020, Ruth Marie Davidson, an “Iron Lady,” passed away peacefully in her sleep. She did it her way!
Ruth was truly a remarkable individual who dealt with life’s adversities with an inner strength that was nothing short of amazing. She is survived by two loving sisters, Norma Daisey and Linda Cresmer; her sister-in-law, Marian (Davidson) Quillen; her daughter, Gail Biddle and her husband Garfield “Kirk” Biddle; four grandchildren, Garfield William Biddle and his wife Lynn Biddle, David Sean Biddle and his wife Trudy Biddle, Douglas John Davidson, and Jaclyn Marie Griffin and her husband Josh Griffin; four great-grandchildren, Kathryn June Biddle, Sean Howard Biddle, Griffin Wyatt Biddle and Amelia Jordan Biddle; and several other extended family members and friends.
Due to the COVID-19 virus, services and burial will be held privately at St. George’s Cemetery in Clarksville.
In lieu of flowers, family members encourage interested parties to send donations in memory of Ruth Marie Davidson to Saint George’s United Methodist Church, 34281 Omar Road, Frankford, DE 19945.
Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.melsonfuneralservices.com
